The Westminster Government has been urged to take responsibility for controversial moves by the BBC to scrap free TV licences for the over-75s.
George Foulkes, the Baron of Cumnock, used a debate on the issue of loneliness in the House of Lords to raise the issue.
Earlier this week it emerged that free TV licences for up to 3.7m pensioners are being scrapped by the BBC to save money.
Although it was a Conservative Party pledge to keep the licence free, in 2015 the government handed over the cost of the scheme to the BBC - costing the corporation £745m, a fifth of its budget, by 2021/22.
Lord Foulkes, the current chair of Age Scotland, told the House of Lords the “scourge of loneliness” in society was widespread.
Research by the Office for National Statistics shows over half of all over-75-year-olds live alone and 10 per cent of over 65-year-olds say that they are always or often lonely.
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Research by Age UK found over a million people said the TV was their main source of company and one in four over 75s viewed it as their main source of companionship.
Lord Foulkes said: “Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. Whatever the cause, feeling alone and vulnerable can lead to other more serious issues such as depression and a serious decline in health and wellbeing.
“A particular urgency and immediacy have been lent to this debate by the appalling news that the universal right of over 75s to a free television licence is to be ended.
“If this policy is carried through, it will add substantially to the problem we are discussing today of loneliness among elderly people.”
Lord Foulkes said for those living alone the television was often their main companion and their “window to the outside world”.
He added: “The Government cannot blame the betrayal of that commitment on the BBC. It was not the BBC which published that manifesto, it was the Conservative Party, and it is they who now have an absolute moral obligation to ensure that the promise is fulfilled.
“Number 10 issued a statement stating that they expected the BBC to continue the concession and pointed towards the large salaries of senior BBC staff.
“These are two separate issues, whatever one thinks about BBC salaries. They are a drop in the ocean compared to the £745m that this would cost the BBC by 2021/22.
“The Government must answer the straightforward question. Why is it breaking its manifesto commitment to more than three million older people?
“Sadly, the threat to TV licences shows how quickly progress can be reversed and words from ministers rendered meaningless. An immediate reversal of this disgraceful decision would be the best illustration that the Government understands the problem and is listening.”
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Following the announcement, TV Licensing is advising customers receiving a free licence that they need not take any immediate action.
Over the course of the next month, TV Licensing will be writing to everyone who currently has a free over-75 licence to let them know about the new scheme.
A free telephone helpline will also be launched this month where older customers can access information on the new policy.
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